Eventually there will be a backdrop here but when I look at this somethings missing and I don't know what it is. I'm referring to the area beyond the tracks where the buildings are. It looks too sterile to me. Any suggestions?
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I think its looks real good . As you stated , a back drop will make a vast difference . Maybe add some farm equipment , hay wagons , dog house or wishing well to enhance the scene .Just a thought . Jim
Knock down the farm and put a stripmall with a bar and some drunken hipsters
The closest that I can claim to be an "expert" is I attended an NMRA forum back in the 80s where there were a couple giving clinics.
That said...the corner looks fine to me considering you have not yet put your viewblock/backdrop around both sides of that corner. Based on what I see, I assume that you intend to operated from inside the curve (from where the photo was taken) not from the outside of the bench work.
We have to learn to accept that there has to be a finite end of the scenery at the edge of the shelf or bench. On my old HO layouts, areas that bothered me got Masonite or similar brand product that would be painted with a horizon, basic land form (hills or simply an extension of the ground to where the horizon meets the earth...some reasonable sky represented by a few clouds and the blue fading to more white. Something that kind of looks like rural areas in my part of the world is what I tried to achieve. I kept it simple because the real "art" is the trains.
I believe it was Linn Westcott who first suggested in model railroad print that the model layout is like a theater production with actors and supporting characters. The trains are the actors. The scenery and track plan and structures are supporting characters. None are more important than the actors.
I like that concept and keep it in mind. I am a "good enough for my personal tastes" modeler...in addition to becoming an old man with all the vision and mobility things that involves...I like the "less is more" and "focus on the trains".
I don't "need" highly detailed rolling stock or locomotives. But I do have some "givens and druthers" that direct my railroading. No two cars with the same reporting marks is higher on my list than aisle side scenery on a corner.
Now that may not work for you, especially if you operate from a fixed location. By I designed my track plan that I will walk around the entire layout following my trains, thus the outside corners (similar to the scene in the photo you attached) are against the wall which means there is a backdrop there. And I have found that I seem to be OK modeling few if any terrain features on the sky blue wall.
After all, the benchwork is about 18 years old, but the current layout is under its second remodel. Features and scenery on the wall might/probably would be incorrect for what I am doing now. 18 years ago, it started as an HO ATSF line in the Oklahoma flatlands. About 5 years later, it had morphed into a MoPac line in Arkansas (hills, trees). The layout design that is in jeopardy right now is a 3 rail semi scale layout set in the Oklahoma City stockyards area. What may be the next version could be a small ATSF branch line thru the rural area where I grew up.
Then again...it could be a Z scale representation of the entire of Omaha. (Where did that come from!!???!)
Relax, your layout looks fine and if you plan to put a backdrop around the corner...Considering your skill in making the scene, I am confident it will be great.
Joe,
The farm scene looks great! Maybe add a little real dirt for the driveway??
Dave
That said...the corner looks fine to me considering you have not yet put your viewblock/backdrop around both sides of that corner. Based on what I see, I assume that you intend to operated from inside the curve (from where the photo was taken) not from the outside of the bench work.
The original plan was a Lazyboy recliner on a swivel base in the middle and still is but there will also be a 30" walkway all around the outside so I'm going to try hanging the backdrop on the walls and see how it looks since things also look good in my mind from the perimeter
David Minarik posted:Joe,
The farm scene looks great! Maybe add a little real dirt for the driveway??
Dave
Thanks Dave but somethings missing. My first thought was more trees but I'm not sure about that. Maybe some different heights of greenery...too much grass..I think I got a little heavy handed with the static grass
If it's a working farm, how about a cornfield, wheat field, or soybeans? Or for something different, you could raise alpacas; that seems to be the current trend in hobby farms.
I really like your farm lane, but it isn't salient enough. Make it a little more visible, put some plantings along it here and there, and maybe add a subtle ditch.
A backdrop would definitely help here. The big problem is your eyes are being distracted by the clutter behind the corner.
You've actually got a pretty nice little scene here. I did a quickie job in MS Paint to show how even a basic sky blue backdrop would help:
Rusty
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Doberman - Very nice selection of buildings!! AND I really like the placement and spacing of the buildings!! You have chosen a most creative and effective way of bringing the corner of your layout to life IMHO! Corners of layouts sometimes can become a boring piece of real estate, again IMHO, ... your is not!! Your scene, as it stands, is a snapshot of a late Saturday afternoon, the chores being completed, and everyone is inside the house taking a nap.
To address your statement of being sterile: ... If it were me - I'd add some farm people figures ... a vegetable garden ... a dirt or gravel driveway leading to the garage where the pickup truck is parked... and a tractor and or some other farm equipment parked on the property ( nothing says "farm" like a tractor IMHO ) I might also add a slate stepping stone pathway leading to the front steps of the farmhouse from the drive way.
People figures ( and animal figures ) bring life energy to most any scene.... a farmer toiling in the garden... a woman on the front porch calling everyone in for supper ...a farmer stooped over a piece of farm machinery as it has broken down ... a person getting out of the pickup truck ... a bail of hay or two in the pickup or some crates of vegetables to be sold at market... a dog running in the front yard ... some chickens running around on the property ( lets hear it for free range chickens!! ) as I've been on farms where a few chickens are roaming around uncaged. Some cats sitting on the front steps ( got to keep those mice and rats away down on the farm ) ... A woman hanging out laundry on the cloths line... a kid pushing a lawn mower.
Perhaps a small pond??? With someone fishing or not???
How about a smallish vegetable garden in the space between the house and barn ( move the existing tree back toward the back edge of the layout ). Farmers grow their own food and the garden is nearer to the house. You could also put a figure in the garden toiling with a hoe and/or picking vegetables for dinner.
BTW - I also like your selection of trees and their subsequent placement! AND you track work is superb!!
Again - your scene works as it is.
I hope my suggestions are helpful in your search for what you say you are missing in this scene. Congratulations on your creativity with this corner of your layout!! Keep those creative juices flowing.
PS - I included the above photo of the small farm scene on my layout. As my real estate was small, I may have packed too much into this small space, however, I hope in some way it acts as a catalyst and gives some credence to my suggestions.
I wish I had a larger piece of real estate on which to create a full farm scene as you have ( maybe some day ) Your post has gotten my creative juices flowing, for sure. Thank you sir for sparking my creative juices!!!!
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Doby,
You might try moving the big barn down closer to the RR tracks and putting at least 2 of the big trees behind the barn, this along with your back ground scenery will change the perspective of the corner greatly. Add some more cows and a few pieces of farm machinery and you got it.
PCRR/Dave
2 two track dummy signal bridges
Segmentation of areas. As suggested above, the driveway/lane could be more defined. Where do the fields start and the lawn end? A yard fence would help. A garden would also be nice. One other detail that could be used is "weeds". If you see a real farm, the yard will be mowed, the field will be uniform but along the edges, like the edges of the barn, fences, road, fields there will be longer uncut grass, weeds etc. You got a nice little corner going, keep us posted with the updates. Oh, also a road to the fields leading off the area could add something.
Here's a shot from the perimeter that looks much better to me than from the front. The other corner is the same size and far from finished but I can see life there already and can't figure out what the difference is.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I can see where I'll use most of them. Obviously now there is too much open space in the scene
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It's missing the little things that give it the realism. Farm junk, farm critters, hay bails brush piles, old cars Things that people leave
You could make the pasture larger, maybe with a pond or a little hill. The old equipment or new is also a good suggestion, along with a small crop field. Of course the pasture should have a cowpath.
Humble advice from a dairy farmer in Western NY.
David Minarik posted:Joe,
The farm scene looks great! Maybe add a little real dirt for the driveway??
Dave
I'm going with Dave about the driveway and PCRR/Dave about moving the barn closer.
Beautiful work.....the backdrop will help greatly.....add some junk, a couple of kids and a dog or two playing in the field....someone working with the cows, someone on the porch of the house and someone getting into the truck and it will be fine.....
Peter
You asked....here is my opinion: Looks a bit too busy to me. Show a bit more dirt. It's all a bit too neat, after all it IS a farm.
Simon
I agree with some of the comments that the farm looks too 'well-maintained'. However, you are doing a great job! It may just need some weeds and sun scorched spots. Maybe a little more weathering on the barn and fence.
George
The most obvious omission in the farm scene is a windmill for pumping water. While the house has already benefited from rural electrification, many a farm continued to use their windmills for economic reasons. A spinning one would add interest, if not a touch of realism. Even one that has been out of service and dilapidated would make an interesting miniature scene.
Company telegraph poles generally followed mainlines, providing remote communications and signalling. They help define the edge of railroad property and come in a number of different designs. Really great DIY projects since commercial offerings of RR telegraph poles aren't generally available.
Bruce
Dobermann, first of all...nice scene! There are some great suggestions above. I agree with adding more dirt and weeds, farm equipment and junk. I would also consider a wire "cow fence" down along the railroad right-of-way, and maybe a stone wall and/or hedgerow.
Chew Mail Pouch sign on the barn! Choo Choo Kenny 
One thing that seems to be missing is the driveway from the garage to the bridge. It would break up some of the green in the scene. The driveway should either be dirt or gravel. If gravel I would use HO ballast for size. Either gray or brown or a mix of the two and leave some of the grass growing in the drive.
The area around the house and barn are a little Spartan suggestion would be:
Bicycles laying in the front yard
Swing set along side of the house
Lawnmower left in yard
Tire swing hanging from the tree in front yard.
Junk pile up alongside the barn
A few 55gal drums by the barn door
Just things to make it look like someone lives there.
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Backdrop is missing, and I agree on the needing more patchiness to the scenery... I used to live in the middle of nowhere, and have friends who still live in the boondocks. Lots of dirt patches interspersed with the weeds, if there wasn't crops growing there.
More dirt plain and simple. Foot paths are what Im missing here most. Near the porch, the gates, the barn, even a thin one leading to the tracks, right from the house, gong near the trees for the 5 seconds of shade they would give.
The driveway could use more defining sure, but dont forget the two track paths from it and around the barnyard gates next.
A planting field, barren or with growth.
If there will be livestock you'll need a water trough.........and dirt 
